Gary was born Nov. 30, 1951 and he passed away suddenly on May 7, 2012. He was the beloved father of Jason and David Elder who lives in St. Charles, Mo.; the dear brother of Patsy Wyatt (Bill) and Judy Lytle (Bob); nephew to Mildred Pomie, all living in Columbia, Mo.; beloved son of the late James and Juanita (Nee Griggs) Elder; our dear uncle, cousin, step-dad, grandpa, teacher, mentor and friend to many.

A memorial service is to be held on Sunday, May 13, 2012 at Crossroads Church in Ridgecrest. A short service will begin at 3 p.m. followed immediately by a “meet and greet” with family members until 8 p.m. Friends are encouraged to bring pictures and to write loving memories in a journal there which will be given to the family. A second memorial service will be held in Gary’s hometown of Columbia, Mo. with arrangements pending at this time.

Gary held many jobs in his lifetime, but his passion always remained with teaching and mentoring. He was an outstanding Special Education teacher who often spent his own money in creating incentives to encourage each student to work hard and to give his or her best effort. While most teachers focus on teaching only academics, Gary also concentrated on teaching important social skills so that his students could function successfully in society both in the business and social worlds. He was a firm believer in not leaving any child behind. He worked tirelessly to leave a positive impact on his students. Gary was dearly loved and respected by his students and his colleagues. He was a gifted man who loved living life to the fullest and will be greatly missed by many.